Wickedly Delicious Chocolate Desserts

Imagine the richest, darkest, most decadent chocolate desserts you’ve ever eaten. Then try a taste of our Brownie Tiramisù or a molten spoonful of Chocolate Bread Pudding. You won’t be disappointed.

We Southerners are known for a few things: syrupy drawls, impeccable hospitality, and, of course, our skill for cooking comfort food—arguably our most charming attribute. And there is no food quite as comfort-packed as chocolate. So naturally, we’ve found a plethora of ways to serve up cake stands, pie dishes, and cookie sheets full affection and decadent chocolate desserts. Whether you—or your loved ones—prefer chocolate in form of fudge-drizzled ice cream, gooey bars and brownies, fluffy frosted cupcakes, or creamy custard, you’re sure to find something in this mix that will satisfy even the most seasoned sweet tooth. Next time your social calendar requires that you to whip out to-die-for chocolate dessert recipe, remember that we’ve got the formula to every rich chocolatey concoction you need right here.

1 of 92Photo: Iain Bagwell

Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

Somehow, Texas claimed the sheet cake as its own in the mid-20th century, perhaps because of the pecans, an ingredient that grows in abundance throughout the Lone Star State. The defining element is its shape--and, of course, the icing, which has to be heated and poured on the warm, just-out-of-the-oven cake. The result is a rich, chocolaty treat that's iconic in Texas.

Mississippi Mud Cake

Mississippi Mud Cake is a classic Southern sheet cake filled with marshmallows and chopped pecans and covered in a rich chocolate frosting. This particular recipe offers a cupcake variation as well as a shortcut version.

4 of 92Greg Dupree

Salted Chocolate Matzo Madness Toffee

Take a crack at this Southern spin on a traditional Passover treat. But it’s not only relegated to the holiday. In fact, you can make this sweet snack year-round using saltine crackers for a crispy, salty base that makes the chocolate and pecans pop in your mouth. So do yourself a favor and indulge!

5 of 92Alison Miksch

Triple-Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake

We took the traditional pound cake recipe and raised it a stunning, triple-chocolate twist. This cake means business. A duo of glazes—one creamy chocolate, the other subtle buttermilk—comes together atop this dreamy confection. It’s indulgent and, we admit, so much fun to eat and serve. Chocolate enthusiasts will be over the moon for this recipe, but it has enough unexpected flavor—thanks to the addition of the buttermilk glaze—that you’ll also win over the harder-to-please dessert eaters at the table. Warning: You—and they—won’t be able to resist a second slice. Go for it. We won’t tell.

Nutty Chocolate Thumbprints

Chocolate-Bourbon Pecan Pie

The new appreciation for whiskey goes beyond drinking and finds its way into sauces, braises, and especially desserts. Now bourbon and pecan pie fit togther like peanut butter and jelly or Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Cappuccino Blossoms

These coffee-flavored cookies have relatively small amounts of granulated and light brown sugar because the coffee liqueur and the dark chocolate kisses add a good bit of sweetness. Also, you might want to note that this is an egg-free recipe.

Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

We replicated the flavor profile of Mexican chocolate using semisweet chocolate and cinnamon. If you prefer to use Mexican chocolate, look for it with the hot drink mixes or on the Hispanic food aisle. This moist pound cake is equally delicious without the Mexican Chocolate Sauce.

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27 of 92Photo: Alison Miksch

Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts

If you make tarts often, Pam suggests investing in a tart tamper. It will make quick work of fitting dough rounds into the pan. Another quick-prep tip: Stack piecrusts to cut multiple rounds in one turn.

28 of 92Photo: Jennifer Davick

Chocolate-Key Lime Cupcake Pies

This cupcake version of a chocolate-key lime pie is an ideal pick-up dessert for entertaining. Make a crumb crust with chocolate wafers and top with a sweet cream cheese mixture with fresh key lime juice. Try cupcake pies with sweetened whipped cream, fresh cherries, blackberries, and mint leaves.

Candy Bar Pie

This man-pleasing pie pairs a tantalizing trio of caramel-laced chocolate and peanut butter with the salty crunch of a crisp, over-the-rim pretzel crust. Be sure to spread the pretzel mixture all the way up the sides and onto the lip of the pie plate, or the crust will be too thick and shallow to hold the filling.

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Chocolate Fudge Brownies

This basic, but outstanding fudge brownie recipe offers endless dessert options you can add nuts or mix things up by turning them into cheesecake brownies. This brownie recipe is a must-have for your recipe box.

Blackberry-Raspberry Truffle Cake

This top-rated cake got rave reviews from our users, who praise its flavor and presentation. The recipe starts with boxed cake mix, making it a holiday-friendly cake for times when every minute counts.

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Chocolate Cake IV

This impressive chocolate cake recipe features three layers of tender chocolate cake and two layers of creamy mocha-chocolate filling covered in a rich chocolate-coffee ganache. The fourth element of chocolate is the garnish of chocolate curls that are sprinkled on top of the cake.

Mocha Java Cakes

You know those desserts that make everyone go “Wow!” when they bite into it? This is one of those desserts. It will be hard to have just one bite of this decadent dessert. The rich melted chocolate center and moist chocolate is beyond perfection for chocolate lovers. Since this dessert is formed into individual cakes, this mocha java concoction is perfect for dinner parties. With a thick dusting of powdered sugar, it mixes substantial chocolate with a delightful, dainty presentation on the plate. For chocoholics, this one can’t be beat, and the fun liquid center gives added dimension to a moist, spongy exterior. Even the cook will have a hard time believing these take less than 45 minutes to assemble and bake.